Chum
Salmon

Oncorhynchus
keta or Chum, Dog Salmon, Keta

DESCRIPTION
-
A mature adult chum salmon is usually
about 25 inches in length and 10 pounds
in weight. The snout is bluntly pointed
but greatly extended, compressed and turned
down in breeding males; the lower jaw
is enlarged and turned up at the tip making
it impossible to close this sharp toothed
mouth. Breeding male chums also have a
slight hump before the dorsal fin and
notice a distinct color change. A steel-blue
and the back and upper sides with fine
black speckles turning into a silver-white
on the belly characterize the chum.

DISTRIBUTION
- Vhum Salmon are found in the Pacific
and Arctic Oceans and Okhotsk and Bering
Seas.

BIOLOGY
- The spawning chum salmon migrate to
the rivers anywhere from July (in northern
British Columbia) to early January (in
southern B.C.) They rarely penetrate a
river more than 100 miles and often spawn
in tidal areas showing a lesser ability
to surmount obstacles than other species.
An average female will lay 2400- 3100
eggs before dying a few days later. Hatching
usually occurs from late December to late
February. They remain in the gravel until
late April to early May when they migrate
to the sea. Food intake includes diatoms,
dipterous insects, fish larvae, fish and
squid. Adults in fresh water do not take
food. A peculiarity is due to the two
year life span, the spawn of any given
"stock" is either and odd or even year.
For example, the Fraser River has a predominantly
odd year cycle and the Queen Charlottes
have an even year cycle.

RELATION
TO MAN - Chum salmon have always been
of particular importance to native people
as food for themselves and their dogs.
This white fleshed fish is caught commercially
to be sold fresh, frozen, dry salted or
smoked. They are now considered a sport
fish and are being sought after by North
American anglers.